A father-of-three who lost his temper after gardai told him they were seizing his car because it had no road worthiness certificate has been given a three month sentence, which has been suspended for two years.

A father-of-three who lost his temper after gardai told him they were seizing his car because it had no road worthiness certificate has been given a three month sentence, which has been suspended for two years.

James Maguire threw his car keys into a garden and tried to break the driver's side door of his car after he was stopped by gardai in Skerries. He also kicked the door of his car a number of times.

Maguire (44) of Bremore Castle Gate in Balbriggan pleaded guilty before Swords District Court to using threatening and abusive behaviour and obstructing a garda at Townspark in Skerries on December 17th last.

Garda Ross Rowan gave evidence that after he stopped Maguire, who was driving an Opel Vectra car, and told him he was going to seize it because it had no NCT, Maguire jumped out of the car and threw his keys away.

'He started to kick the car door and tried to break the driver's side door of the car,' said Gda Rowan.

Maguire then tried to barge past a second garda and Gda Rowan had to use pepper spray on Maguire because he was aggressive and raising his fists.

Defence solicitor Ms Fiona Darcy said Maguire, who has 15 previous convictions, got annoyed with gardai as he had booked his car in for an NCT.

'It's inexcusable but that's his explanation,' said Ms Darcy.

She said Maguire is a member of the Travelling community and his education is poor, to which Judge Dermot Dempsey replied: 'And his manners are worse.'

Judge Dempsey sentenced Maguire to three months in prison, which he suspended for two years and convicted and fined him €200.